Submarine mine



May 15, 1928.

H. B. PRATT SUBMARINB MINE Filed June 28, 1926 stops the rotation of the drum.

lates the separation of the flotation chamber from the anchor takes place when the unit has sunl; to a predetermined depth exceeding the maximum depth at which the flotaej tion chamber is to beanchored.

E is the aforesaid locking device for the drum A and is in the form of a spring controlled pin slidably carried by the drum. This pin, when pushed out, engages with lugs B on the fixed casing 13 and thereby The aforesaid spring operated member for effecting the engagement of the pin E with the lugs B is in the form of a collar F slidably carried by a sleeve F fixed tothe drum and between this collar and a part connected to the saidsleevc is a compressed spring F The collar F is normally looked to the sleeve F by balls 7 which are disposed in holes passing through the said sleeve and engaged in a recess f with inclined walls formed in the collar F. The aforesaid stem C is formed .with a groove 0 which is normally a short distance away from the balls 7 but which, when the diaphragm C moves to the right upon the predetermined set depth being reached, comes opposite the balls which are thereupon forced out of engagement with the recess f by reason of the inclined walls of this recess. The collar F is thus liberated and the spring F thereupon presses it against the pin E to move the latter forcibly into engagement'with the aforesaid lugs B on the casing B. It will be understood that asthe catch D is moved to the unlocking positionat a depth of .im-

\ collar F as above described.

mersion exceeding the maximum set depth required as'aforesaid, the diaphragm C will at such time beheld in the position shown (i. e. deflected to the left) bythe sea pressure-and the latter decreases as a result of the rising of the flotation chamber due to its buoyancy, the air pressure in the compartment C will move the diaphragm towards the right {this action continues until, when the two pressures are equal, the groove 0 comes opposite the balls 7' to release the The herein described invention is particularly but not exclusively intended for use with submarine lines constructed'in accordance with the specifications of our patent applications Serial Numbers 119,044 and 119,046, filed concurrently herewith in which the stoppage of the drum C shears a shear.- ing pin normally holding the locking pawl of the mooring cable drum in the inoperative position and also shears'a shearing pin de- 'tachablv connecting the hydrostatic device to the flotation chamber.

1 What I claim and desire to secure "by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. For use in a submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber separable from an anchor which holds the flotation chamber by depth setting device comprising a casing, a

drum rotatably' mounted in said casing, a. wire, on said d-rum,,connected to a device adapted to stop the paying out of the mooring cable when the rotation of said drum is stopped, a locking device adapted to arrest the "rotation of said drum, a chamber, means for admitting to said chamber gas' under pressurecorresponding to the 'predetermined set depth, a diaphragm actedupon. by said gas on'one side and by the pressure of the water on" the other side, and means under the control of said diaphragm whereby, when a water pressure coi'responding to said depth is reached, said*locking device will be moved-to its position arre'sting the rotation of said drum.

2. Foruse in a submarine mine compris ing aflotation chamber separable from an anchor which holds the flotation chamber by means of a mooring cable at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the water, a depth setting device comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing, a wire on said drum connected to a device adapted to stop the paymg out of the mooring cable when the rotation of said drum is stopped, a locking" device adapted to arrest the rotation of said drum,"

a chamber formed in the interior 'of said drum, means foradmitting to said chamber 1 gas under pressure corresponding to the predetermined set depth, a diaphragm acted upon by said gas on one side and by the pressure of the water on the other side, and

means under the control of said diaphragm whereby, when a water pressure correspond'e 3 ing to said depthis reached,'s aid lockingdevice will be moved to its positional-resting 'the rotation of said drum.

3. In a depth setting device for a submarine mine, the combination with the elements claimed in claim 1, of'a catch adapted to normally lock the diaphragm in the inoperative position anda shearingpin adapted to normally hold "said catch inthe operative position, said pin being sheared when the paying out ofthe mooring cable is stopped by said depth setting device.

4. In a depth setting device for a' submarine mine, the'combination with-the elements claimed in claim 2, of a catch adapted to normally lock the diaphragm in the in-. operative position and a shearing pin adapted to normally hold said catch in the operative position, said pin being sheared when I the paying out of the mooring cable'is stopped by saiddepth setting device. I

- 5 For use in a submarine 'mine compris ing' a flotation chamber separable" from an anchor which holds the flotation chamber by means of a mooring'cable at a predetermined depth beneathvthe surface of 'thewater, a.

' depth setting device comprising a casin a drum rotatably mounted in said casing, a Wire on said drum connected to a device adapted to stop the paying out of the mooring cable, when the rotation of said drum is stopped, a locking device adapted to arrest the rotation of said drum, a diaphragm, means for enabling the pressure of the Water to act on one side of said diaphragm, means for causing to act on the other side a pressure corresponding to the predetermined set depth, a normally cocked spring-operated member for moving said locking device to the locking position, and a releasing device for said member, said releasing device being operated by said diaphgram to release said member to move the locking device to its locking position when the predetermined set depth has been reached.

6. For use in a submarine mine comprising a flotation chamber separable from an anchor which holds the flotation chamber by means of a mooring cable at a predetermined depth beneath the surface of the Water, a depth setting device comprising a casing, a drum rotatably mounted in said casing, a Wire on said drum connected to a device adapted to stop the paying out of the mooring cable when the rotation of said drum is stopped, a locking device adapted to arrest the rotation of said drum, a chamber within said. drum, means for admitting to said chamber gas under pressure corresponc1- ing to the predetermined set depth, a diaphragm acted upon by said gas on one side and by the pressure of the Water on the other side, a normally cocked spring-operated member for moving said locking device to the locking position, and a releasing device for said member, said releasing device being operated by said diaphragm to release said member to move the locking device to its locking position when the predetermined set depth has been reached.

HARTLEY BLYTH PRATT. 

